The 2026 MotoGP season already promises 22 Grands Prix, a return to Brazil, and a merciless technical battle... but for now, it's impossible to complete the winter testing calendar. And the reason isn't a problem with tires or engines: it's a geopolitical and marketing indecision over which city will host the season launch.
The “presentation + tests” format, launched in Bangkok in 2025, was a success. Dorna wants to do it again. But where? Three cities are on the table:
Kuala Lumpur : favorite, because Sepang is expecting the drivers at the beginning of February. Practical and effective solution.
Melbourne : glamorous, but a logistical nightmare. You would have to transport the entire equipment or settle for simple show bikes.
Singapore : premium, media-friendly card, with the ideal futuristic setting… but a budgetary and diplomatic headache.
However, a lack of certainty over which city will host the season launch is delaying the finalization of the testing schedule...
In reality, Sepang is only an hour away Kuala Lumpur, which presents itself as the "plug & play" solution. A launch in the Malaysian capital would allow for seamless follow-up testing. No need for multiple cargo flights, no unnecessary risks. In short, everyone is quietly pushing for Kuala Lumpur.
One month after the race calendar was announced, the MotoGP off-season remains unclear
More Dorna dreams of expanding its footprint in Australia. However, Melbourne, is an Australian dream that's stuck. Organizing a world show there means sending MotoGP prototypes halfway around the world, before even returning to Asia for testing. As a result, some are imagining a launch with dummy bikes—a tall order for a sport that thrives on extreme technology.
Finally, a launch at Singapore would have allure. Skylines, international media, XXL sponsor visibility. But here again, the numbers make you cough: exorbitant prices, saturated logistics. The spectacle asset would also come at a cost.
While Ducati, KTM, Honda, Aprilia et Yamaha are already planning their technical programs, the paddock is holding its breath: without a confirmed city, it's impossible to publish the test schedule. One month after the race calendar was announced, the off-season remains unclear.
MotoGP wants to have a spectacular season launch, but this staging is delaying everything else. Kuala Lumpur is the rational solution, Melbourne the exotic map, Singapore the media bet. As long as Dorna don't press the green button, the preseason remains at a standstill...
